Disney Phone a Friend--Questions About Staying at the Hyatt Prior to Sailing

Retrieving luggage at baggage claim before checking in at the Hyatt

Saturday afternoon the phone rang.  A familiar voice was on the other end of the line; the husband of a former colleague and Disney fan.  Reason for the call?  Had a few questions about staying at the Hyatt at Orlando International Airport before sailing with Disney in February.  Fire away.

Do we pick up our luggage and take it to the hotel?  Yes.  Since they would be flying in the day prior to sailing, then yes, pick up luggage at baggage claim and take to the Hyatt—which is upstairs (or elevator or escalator if you prefer.)  This also means NOT tagging your luggage with the Disney Cruise Line luggage tags, at least not yet.  I also shared that baggage carts can only go as far as the lobby of the Hyatt and that Bell Services would take the bags from that point.

Where’s the entrance to the Hyatt?  The entrance is located between in the security gates on Level 3, or the main level of the airport.  The check-in desk for the Hyatt is actually one level higher and can be reached by escalator or elevator.  While I didn’t tell him this, as he will find out, the elevator will only access the public levels unless a room key is used upon entering the elevator.  This is a security measure for guests.

The blue tag was our admittance to the bus for port transfers and was stapled to our cruise documents.

So we just go downstairs the next morning and catch the bus?  Basically, yes.  I told him to be sure to tell the folks at the Hyatt upon check-in that they would be sailing with Disney the next day.  They would then be given a piece of paper to record number of pieces of luggage, room number, etc. that is then given to the Cast Members that check guests in for Port Transfers the next morning.  This way, they could tag their luggage with the DCL luggage tags and leave the bags in the room at the Hyatt as they would be retrieved and taken to the port.  (I must admit that this is one of the most convenient services I have found! )   Of course, they would have reserved the port transfers and paid for them along with their cruise reservations.  I have heard of guests showing up at the port transfer desk and paying for the transfers right at that moment or charging them to their ship board account.

Where is the check-in for the Port Transfers?  The check-in is right next to the check-in for Disney’s Magical Express Service, so lower level B side of the airport.

What time?  The first bus usually heads out to the port about 9:30 am.  I said we try to be there before 9:00 to check-in.  I also told him that the boarding group numbers are now assigned at the port.  Since they have sailed with Disney before, there was an understanding of boarding etc.

The call ended with me offering assistance with any other questions between now and their cruise and to have a great cruise.  I was thanked and we hung up; happy that I was able to help.

What was cool was that these folks were there to help us when we planned our first trip to Walt Disney World.  I remember peppering his wife with questions hoping to plan a great vacation for our family.  The boy has been the recipient of tokens and souvenirs from their previous trips, too.  We Disney fans stick together and know who to “go to” with questions.  Help is usually just a phone call away!

Using The Disney Transportation System

Walt Disney World Resort offers guests transportation options to get to and from the parks and other resorts for FREE!  The Disney Transportation System contains fleets of boats, buses, and, of course, monorails.  The system shuttles guests from resorts to parks and park to park.  Navigating the system is easy, but can be overwhelming if a guest is not sure how the system works.

There’s a great web-site called Our Laughing Place (a reference to Splash Mountain) Walt Disney World Transportation Wizard.  Visitors to the site put in where they are and where they would like to go and the transportation wizard determines the best route using the Disney Transportation System.  Click here to get to the OLP WDW Transportation Wizard.

I’ll never forget the time an adult female guest was getting on the Magic Kingdom bus to go to breakfast at Cape May Café at the Beach Club.  We were at the bus stop at Port Orleans French Quarter and were getting on the Magic Kingdom bus.  She was asking the driver if this was the early bus for character dining and if the bus would get her to Cape May Café.

I intervened.  While the Magic Kingdom bus could get her to the Magic Kingdom and then she could take a Beach Club bus to the Beach Club, the bus to Magic Kingdom wasn’t her best bet.  I asked what time her Advanced Dining Reservation was for.  While I don’t remember the exact time, I do remember that she had given herself plenty of time to make the reservation.  Good for her!  I then suggested that she wait for the Hollywood Studios bus and then take Friendship Boat to the Beach Club.  I told her where to go at Studios to catch the boat—as she wouldn’t actually have to enter the park the get to the boat.  (This is different than at EPCOT, as guests would have to enter the main entrance of the park—using their admission ticket—and traverse to the International Gateway to get to a Friendship Boat launch to get to the Beach Club.)  Going to Studios would be easier.

The lady I was helping asked if I was one of those “moms.”  I replied, “Do you mean a Disney mom?”

“Yeah.”

“No, but I have applied to be a Disney mom.”  I wished her and her family a good day and a great trip.  I’m sure they made it!

When I made the little yellow cards for the husband for our most recent trip—click here to read more—I included information about Disney transportation on the card.  For example, the evening we were having dinner at Garden Grill in EPCOT, I had listed on one card to take Magic Kingdom Ferry to TTC then EPCOT Monorail if Express Monorail from the Magic Kingdom is not running.  At the time of our visit, the Magic Kingdom monorail line was experiencing interruptions due to construction at the Grand Floridian.  So, we had plan A and B to use the Disney Transportation System to get from Magic Kingdom to EPCOT for dinner.  This also meant that we knew which park we were going to be in on which day, etc.  Turns out that the monorails were running—I asked a Cast Member when we exited the park to be sure—and we took the Express Monorail from the Magic Kingdom to the Ticket and Transportation Center and switched to the EPCOT monorail—we didn’t get to ride the Ferry this time.

Guests’ views on the Disney Transportation System are as varied as the guests themselves and opinions vastly vary.  For us, using the Disney Transportation System, including Free Magical Express from Orlando International Airport to our resort, is all a part of the Disney experience.  I can’t wait to hear the music on the bus when it turns the corner at the Magic Kingdom announcing our arrival.  I love to hear the themed music on the various buses for different resorts. All of us enjoy visiting with other guests during the commute to and from the parks.  I like to sit back, relax, and let Disney do the driving!

Be sure to check out the Transportation Wizard and let me know what you think.

Cruise to Resort--Using Disney Transports

On our grand Summer 2011 family vacation, we let Disney transport us from the moment our plane touched down in Orlando.  We used Disney transports to get us from the Hyatt at Orlando International to Port Canaveral—click here to read more—and were transported on a lovely Disney Cruise Line bus, operated by Mears. 

We then used Disney transport to go from Port Canaveral to our Walt Disney World Resort.  We thought we would once again be transported in luxury on a Disney Cruise Line bus.  But that didn’t happen.  Here’s the story:

After disembarking the ship with Key to the World Cards, Passports, and Custom forms in hand, we headed down the escalator just after exiting the ship, to the big luggage room.  I quickly found a porter and told him our bags were in the “red Mickey” section.

Off we went to secure our bags.  Found them!  The porter loaded them on his oversized two-wheeled hand cart and we zig-zagged through the queue to customs.  It was great to visit with our porter. . . how many days do you work at the port?  How long is your day?  He said the crew of porters work every day any ship, for any cruise line, is in port.  He said they arrive quite early, say 4:00 am, and start taking bags off the ship so that when the first guests disembark between 7:00 and 7:30 am, the luggage is in the luggage room.

We made it through customs without any issues and them outside the port terminal.  I explained that we were headed to a Disney resort and it was confirmed by a code on our Key to the World Cards.

A Disney Cruise Line Cast Member then directed us to a white van.  Huh?  The beautiful Disney Cruise Line busses were loading right beside us.  There were already 4 guests in the van and we were next.  The porter and van driver quickly loaded our bags. 

Well, since I had anticipated riding in the Disney Cruise Line bus, which had a restroom, I had waited to use the bathroom until after we got through the disembarkation process.  Now, I was looking at an hour and a half ride without a bathroom.  Nope, not going to make it. 

The van driver directed me to a security guard.  I then had to go through the metal detectors at the entrance to the port terminal, up the stairs and use the restroom.  I was the only guest on that floor of the building!  I quickly made my way back down the stairs and to the van.  A Disney Cruise Line bus was already pulling away from the port terminal. 

By the time I returned to the van, it had been decided that I would ride in the front, next to the driver.  We would make the ride to Orlando stopping at 3 resorts—Pop Century to drop off two of our passengers, Caribbean Beach to drop off 2 more, and we would be the last stop at Port Orleans French Quarter.

Another issue. . . on the Disney Cruise Line bus, movies would be playing.  The boy would be somewhat entertained.  No movies on the van. He was able to entertain himself with his DS. I was three rows in front of him in our white van!

Not having expected this turn of events, I asked our driver how this happens.  He said that the van is typically there and fills up first, early, to get guests to the Walt Disney World Resorts.  He was surprised that the big bus filled up first and took off.  He told us that riders on the van had to be over 6 years old.  Okay, we met that requirement.

It ended up being a lovely drive/ride.  Our driver allowed me to take the following pictures from the front seat of the van. 

We saw parts of Orlando that we hadn’t seen before and possibly would not have seen from riding in the bus.  We made it to our stop, Port Orleans French Quarter before 10:00 am.

Disney continued to transport us using Disney Transportation to/from the parks—busses, boats, and monorails.

Disney’s Magical Express transported us from our resort to Orlando International for our return flight home.  Yeah, there’s a story with this one too, but I’ll save it for another time.

Disney does its best to transport guests in a safe, timely, and efficient manner which is another reason we keep coming back.  There’s no added cost of rental cars or car services when traveling to Disney.

Click here to read about our last night on board the DisneyDream.

Who Will See the Dream First?

I was the first one to eye-spy the Disney Dream, but I’ll get back to that a just a moment.  First, more about our bus ride to the port.

Once we were on board the bus and ready to ride to Port Canaveral, everyone sat back and relaxed.  We watched the Florida vistas breeze by through our round “port hole” windows” and soon a Disney Cruise Line video was playing on the screens just overhead.  The videos included information about the port, ship, port adventures, dining, entertainment, etc. but it also had character quizzes, trivia, and other interactive elements.

Okay, yes, I could see the ship out of the left side of the bus just as we came over the last hill of our journey (see first photo).  One more exit on the highway and we were at the Port Terminal.  There is lots of traffic at the port terminal on port days.  As our porter said when we disembarked, “4,000 people on and 4,000 people off.”  Yep, and on the same day in a few short hours.

We waited on the bus until a Disney Cruise Line representative boarded and make a few announcements.  This also gave the driver and port staff time to unload any luggage on the bus so that it was waiting for us when we got off the bus.  We had one rolling bag to gather.

Getting through port security was easier than the airport.  Our bags were scanned, metal objects taken off and put in bins, and shoes left on!  Up the escalator and now all we had to do was wait for boarding group 2 to be called!

 Well, actually, we did more than that.  We went to the far end of the Port Terminal and out on the viewing deck to take pictures with the Disney Dream in the background.  We have a picture like this with the Wonder and the Magic, so it was only fitting to also have a photo with the Dream in the background.  It was also interesting to watch things being loaded and unloaded from the ship.  A very busy place!

The boy and I got in line for the children’s club registration desk.  He was already registered on-line, but needed to get his wrist band.  This took just a few moments.  I suggested that they also measure kids for the Aqua Duck at this location and indicate on their wrist band if the child is tall enough or not.  They said that might be a good idea.

Since we arrived about the Port at about 10:30, we had a few moments, as boarding would not begin until 11:45 am.  We knew characters would be out and about, so we had our autograph book and camera handy.  In fact, we were the second in line to for Captain Mickey.  It can pay to queue up before the characters come.  As soon as we met Captain Mickey, the husband went and got in line again—the line had grown quite long—as we knew there would be a second character by the time he was towards the front of the line again.

 We were right.  Minnie arrived to meet guests just a few families ahead of him.  It was actually while he was in line that the boy and I did the children’s program registration, as by then, the line at the registration desk was quite short as the kids were in line for the characters!

This is also a great time to use the restroom, etc.  There are TV screens around the Port Terminal showing Disney movies and cartoons, of course.  Disney music is playing throughout the terminal as well.  If you handled all your paperwork at the airport, you can also grab a Personal Navigator from the Registration area.  No need to get in line, as a Cast Member will have some at the entrance to the queue area.  Just ask if you cannot find one.  You can also get a map of the ship, which can be handy.

One thing you won’t find at the Port Terminal is food or beverages.  I think there is a water fountain near the restrooms.  So, if you are anticipating a long wait, bring your own snacks, etc.  We had some in our bag just in case.

The ship boarding began when we said good-bye to Minnie.  You will hear a series of chimes before the announcement is made.  Get used to those chimes, as you will hear them on-board the ship before any ship-wide announcements are made.  

We were only a few moments away from boarding the Dream through the lovely doors shown above!